San Jose: Aromatic oils led to hazardous materials call at gym

SAN JOSE -- Fire investigators believe the overzealous use of an aromatic oil on steam room rocks led to a hazardous materials situation when 10 women in the locker room at the Silver Creek Sportsplex complained of shortness of breath and scratchy throats around 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Fire Capt. Mike Van Elgort said that because it was not known what was causing the symptoms, the facility was evacuated and numerous emergency crews responded to the area, including the hazardous materials team.

Van Elgort said that once they determined that there were no dangerous chemicals present at the fitness club, it turned into "much ado about nothing."

"We went in and there were no toxins," he said. "Nobody was transported to the hospital, and all the symptoms cleared within 20 minutes."

An employee at the fitness center, which reopened around 9 p.m., said about 150 had been evacuated.